15 Admissions Interview Questions You Should Be Ready For

This is probably the most basic interview wisdom that you will be given (works in every situation, actually!).

This isn’t necessarily bad advice, but it is rarely a good idea to just go into an interview and “wing it.” An admissions interview is an opportunity to be yourself, but to be your best possible self. Would you give a class presentation without practicing at all (or at least thinking about what you were going to talk about)? Of course not. So why should an admissions interview be any different?

To help you better prepare for the admissions interview, here are 15 popular questions that admissions officers may ask you:

Questions about academic interests:

How has your experience at [insert high school] been?

What has been your favorite class and why?

Who has been your most inspiring teacher?

Do you have any ideas of what you might like to study in college?

In your high school career has there been a paper or project that was particularly thought-provoking? Tell me more about it.

Questions about personal/extracurricular activities:

How do you like to spend your free time?

What is your favorite book?

How would your best friend describe you?

What has been the most meaningful activity/involvement from the past few years?

Is there anything you are looking forward to trying in colleges?

Other questions to be ready for:

Why are you interested in [insert college]?

What are the most important things you are looking for in a college?

What questions can I answer for you about [insert college]?

Is there anything you would change about your high school experience?

Describe your high school for me.

Think about these questions and how you might respond to them. The admissions interview is at its heart a conversation, but a little bit of prep can go a long way!